Week 15: John Jakobsen, Stroudsburg (wrestling)

John Jakobsen of Stroudsburg High School is The Morning Call Athlete of the Week.

John Jakobsen of Stroudsburg High School is The Morning Call Athlete of the Week.

(FILE PHOTO THE MORNING CALL)

Stroudsburg wrestler John Jakobsen is the Moring Call Athlete of the Week

Stroudsburg's John Jakobsen was so close last year to becoming Monroe County's first PIAA wrestling champion, finishing second at 182 pounds. As a senior, Jakobsen is driving toward gold.

Last week, Jakobsen continued his exceptional season, winning the 195-pound weight class at the Escape the Rock tournament. Jakobsen (22-1) dominated the bracket, winning by two first-period pins and a major decision to reach the championship bout.

In the final, Jakobsen defeated Malvern Prep's Rashon Lusane 3-0 for the title. It was Jakobsen's second tournament victory this season: He also won the Bethlehem Holiday Classic title in December.

Jakobsen, a second-team all-Eastern Pennsylvania Conference quarterback for Stroudsburg, has been among District 11's top wrestlers for several years. He is a two-time District 11 and Northeast regional champ and last year became Monroe County's highest-placing state finisher since 1994.

"Jake was been wrestling extremely well this year," Stroudsburg coach Matt Kleinle said. "He has developed more fluency on his feet and has been working very hard to achieve his goal: to be a state champion."

Harry Fisher / The Morning Call

John Jakobsen of Stroudsburg High School (left) tangles with Connor Frey of Lehighton in in195 pound weight class during the championship round of the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic at Liberty High School on Tuesday, December 29, 2015. /// Harry Fisher / The Morning Call mc-liberty-wrestling-tournament

John Jakobsen of Stroudsburg High School (left) tangles with Connor Frey of Lehighton in in195 pound weight class during the championship round of the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic at Liberty High School on Tuesday, December 29, 2015. /// Harry Fisher / The Morning Call mc-liberty-wrestling-tournament

(Harry Fisher / The Morning Call)

Jakobsen is Pennsylvania's top-ranked 195-pound wrestler, according to Papowerwrestling.com, and ranked 14th nationally by Intermat Wrestling. He will wrestle for Lehigh University.

Athlete of the Week appears Fridays and is selected by online voters from three senior athletes nominated by The Morning Call sports staff. To vote go to themorningcall.com/athleteoftheweek from 5 p.m. Mondays to 11:59 p.m. Wednesdays.

Qualified weekly winners will be awarded a $1,000 college scholarship by Coordinated Health.